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Sgt. Darrell R. Griffin Jr.

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Yesterday, I had lunch with the father of Sgt. Darrell R. Griffin, Jr., who was a 36 year old man who gave his life serving in the Iraq war. I wish that each of you could have the privilege of sitting with Darrell Griffin, Sr. and listening to the heart of a father who lost his best friend and the lessons he learned in this difficult process. I copied an excerpt from a website that I found on the internet. I want to encourage you to Google Sgt. Darrell R. Griffin, Jr. and read about this man’s life. Soon to follow is a book written by both of them that is a must read.

Please keep all of our soldiers in your prayers and thank GOD for the freedoms we have here in the United States of America.

I pray for this family and all the families of our military.
Thank you Darrell, Sr. for your words of wisdom yesterday.
Thank you Darrell, Jr. for the greatest sacrifice.

“Staff Sgt.Darrell R. Griffin, Jr.,36, of Alhambra, Calif., died Mar. 21 in Balad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with small arms fire during combat operations. Griffin was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Staff Sgt. Griffin served in the Army National Guard prior to joining
the active Army and reporting to Fort Lewis in July 2001 at which time he was assigned to 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (SBCT). He was deployed to Iraq with the 1st Brigade from October 2004 to September 2005. Griffin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his actions in saving the lives of three US Soldiers as well as two Iraqi Army soldiers injured during battle in Tal Afar, Iraq. This was Staff Sgt. Griffin’s second tour in Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division approximately one year ago.”

Byron Davis and Dream of Destiny

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This is Byron Davis and yours truly at the Bird’s Nest, the main arena for the 2008 Bejing Olympics. We were there to share the love of Jesus with the Chinese people. I have been thinking about that trip and the 25 folks from our church that traveled with me to the other side of the world. 2.1 billion Chinese people in the world, and the vast majority of them do NOT know about Jesus Christ.

During my life group this morning, my mind raced back to that trip. I am praying that God would send someone to water the seeds we planted, and that God himself would give the increase…

And all God’s people said ??? AMEN and AMEN!!!

Byron is also the director for our ministry called Dream of Destiny. We work together to brainstorm ways that we can help churches, colleges, and organizations diversify. As you know, it was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that said how wrong it was that 11:00 am was the most segregated hour in CHRISTIAN America. Since this MONDAY is the holiday marking his birthday, I wonder if he would be happy or sad with the progress in our churches. I think in almost every area of life, we have seen GREAT PROGRESS, except in the local church. I know there are many reasons for this, but in my heart, I think of all the “Christian” watchwords. Words like forgiveness, hope, love, unity and peace. You would think that these words would LEND us to be more diverse, but that has not been the case.

As we watch America swear into office the first ever African American President, be thankful that our nation has matured enough to see this historical day. And at the same time, ask what YOU CAN DO to help bring increased diversity into the Christian church. Why not go to our website and see if there is a way for YOU to get INVOLVED?

Dudley

Racial Diversity and Words of Encouragement

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I spoke last night for an hour and another three hours this morning on the importance of racial diversity at the London Institute in Corona. Then I came home to finish my message for this weekend, where I will be outlining the direction of our church for 2009.

Just know that as I read through all the comments on my recent blog post that I was deeply moved and touched by all of your thoughts and prayers. I wish I was able to explain to you how encouraging YOU are to me and my family. The church is a family. And you are a part of my family. Your words and prayers are AMAZING.

So many thoughts, so many things that need to be said, but just know that God is still on the throne and that no matter what happens to any of us, that God will always sustain us. I know that God has never failed me, and when we look at all of life, we are the most blessed people on the earth.

My prayer for YOU is that God would comfort you the way he has comforted me. It really is a miracle that no matter what happens to us that God is able to turn it into good. Romans 8:28.

If we had to rely upon ourselves for peace and hope, then we would ALL be in trouble. But one only needs to read the last few chapters of Job to realize that God is all powerful and all knowing, and in HIM ALONE are we to trust.

I will see you this weekend, with a Bible and a friend. I am excited to share the plans for 2009.

LOVING YOU and LOVING GOD,
Pastor Dudley

Thoughts

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Heart is heavy today.
Paper is unfair.
They enjoy their slant.
I love my son.
He is my best friend.
No word or deed will ever diminish my view of him.
He lives in a glass house. I live in a glass house.
I love my son.
I will be by his side forever.
Right is right and wrong is wrong.
I am sorry. For everything.
God loves me. God loves you.
Romans 8:28
I love God.
I love my son.
My Aunt died.
Going to her funeral today. Yes, Today.
I wonder if the paper will report the greatness of her life.
I doubt that.
Won’t be holding my breath.
That would be a worthy article.
I have no comment.
Well I have several.
I just can’t say them.
Don’t want to be misquoted.
Will covet your prayers.
Praying is powerful.
I love my son.
He loves me.
No matter what I do, he loves me.
I love that.
I really love that.
He needs me.
I need him.
We both need God.
Today will pass. But God is eternal.
His love is eternal.
His grace is eternal.
His spirit is eternal.
I love my son.
God gave my son to me.
God gave his son to me.
Thank you God for my son.
Thank you God for your son.
That had to be hard.
Because, I love my son.
and I know that you love your son.
John 3:16
I love John 3:16.
I really love that.

Just a few thoughts…
Got to run to the funeral now.
My aunt was a Godly woman.
Wish you could have known her.
Will see my dad.
I love my dad.
My dad loves me.
It was his sister that died.
It’s hard to bury your sister.
But that’s what he’s going to do today.
I must be with my son.
I must be with my father.
They both need me today.
I can do both.
It is an honor to help them.
They have both helped me in so many ways.
I love my dad.
I love my son.
I miss my grandfather.
He was a preacher too.
I don’t remember his funeral.
He died when I was four.
His daughter is my Aunt.
Went to see her in the Hospital on Sunday.
Today I will see her laid to rest.
Heart is Heavy today.
I love my son.

Not a LOT of sleep

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I woke up this morning at about 4:30 AM. For some strange reason my dog, BUSTER, thought a stray rabbit that he saw was worth waking up the entire neighborhood.

I immediately began to think about my schedule this week and that was the end of my night’s rest. It always seems that I book so many things into my life that I wake up one day and realize that I cannot possibly keep all these plates spinning at the same time.

It’s never a good thing to walk into one’s office NOT knowing where to start. So today, as in many days, I must begin with prayer — asking God for wisdom; asking God to help me remember HOW BIG HE IS and how small I am; praising God for all of 2008 and trusting in God for all of 2009; praising God for WHO He is and not because of WHAT He can do; remembering the flock that God has placed under my care; asking God to help me be a dedicated Man of God; begging for mercy for all the times I’ve blown it; singing the words to some of my favorite praise songs and even recalling some old hymns I used to sing as a boy; thinking of those who are dreaming big dreams and asking God that He would give them the desires of their heart.

I am asking God to provide financially for all the people that I know of that are hurting right now, for the protection and provision for my family and loved ones, for believers to feverishly seek and save that which is lost. I read today of a woman who died trying to rescue her dog. Lord, why can’t we be more diligent in rescuing the unborn child, or the man who does NOT know Christ?

Lord, help me today, every second of today. I cry out to You, for YOUR help, for YOUR guidance, for YOUR protection, for YOUR love and for YOUR purpose to be front and center. Thank you for helping me get through THIS DAY. I pray in JESUS’ name…. Amen!!!

Let’s ride

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I was scheduled to be gone this weekend… Phil Allen will be preaching at all the services THIS weekend at the Porter Ranch Campus. But I decided to do something to help our Westside Campus in Brentwood. I am going to preach just ONCE this weekend at 11:00 AM at the Wadsworth Theatre. I decided to invite all of my Harley Davidson friends. I started a group called “Pastor’s Posse,” and we get together and go riding from time to time, and this Sunday, I have invited all of them to go on a ride with me to church on the Westside.
Thinking about making this a YEARLY event…. smile….
We are going to meet at the Park and Ride at 9:45 AM on Porter Ranch Drive and the 118 freeway and then leave at 10:00 AM sharp to ride over the hill and arrive at the Wadsworth Theatre by 10:30 AM… Church starts at 11:00 AM. I will preach, then we are going to have lunch, and then ride PCH north…..
Please feel free to join us if you like.
Pray for our safety and pray that we are able to reach people for JESUS.

And then NEXT weekend, on the 10th and 11th, I will be introducing the 2009 theme to the entire church body. You won’t want to miss it!